EFCC arrests two with $238,858

November 9, 2012 : Friday Olokor

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde | credits: File copy

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday said it had arrested two suspects attempting to smuggle over $238,858 out of the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Although the details of the arrests were still sketchy as at press time, sources said one of the suspects, Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, who was still being interrogated, was arrested on Wednesday while preparing to board a United Arab Emirates-bound Ethiopian Airline to Dubai.

The second suspect, Hyginus Ezedimbu, was apprehended at the same airport on November 3 as he prepared to board an Ethiopian Airline on his way to China.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrests.

He said, “The arrest of the duo comes on the heels of similar arrests at two of the nation’s other major gateways – the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano.”

A total of $188,858 was said to have been found on Abdulrasheed Ibrahim.

He was said to have declared the sum of $45,000 but further search on him reveal additional $143, 858.

Further search also revealed that he was carrying £40 and 5753 grams of solid gold worth N34, 518,000.

Ezedimbu was said to have been caught with $50,000 but declared $49,971.

How is this news from EFCC for crying out loud? Is it because they didnt fly out with larger sums on private jets? How much did Otedola state was in his plane before he bribed Faruq? U see uneducated but hard-working businessmen who are travelling with cash to China and all to do businees (because they only understand cash & not bank transactions) and then U label them as if they are criminals…..sad. And shame to EFCC;

charleslon

@punch c’mon!!!!!! is this news? people are going to trade with cash! so what they didnt declar how much they had! is this front page news for crying out loud!!!
“Ezedimbu was said to have been caught with $50,000 but declared $49,971″…….na wa o

tony are

Wetin concern otedola here?

akonobi idemili

they should stop arresting pple who are using their money for trading,these are money they made from scratch,they should concentrate on political people who collect money for contract and abscond and not private traders that are using their money for trade…this media trial should stop

Gozie Nneji

What a shameful arrest by Ibrahim Lamorde and his men! Is that the kind of people that your commission was established for? You better seek advice from Ribadu before you get the commission messed up.

Mfon in uyo

This arrest by EFCC is an embarassment to the commission. You shld only arrest people if they carry money in cash that exceeds the maximum amount allowed..

SCANDINAVIAN

EFCC OR WHAT EVER YOU CALLED YOUR SELVES… STOP INTIMIDATING AND HARASING BUSINESS MEN FOR GOD SAKE…EFCC,, YOU PEOPLE KNOW THE CRIMINALS WHO LOOT AND STEAL PUBLIC FUNDS,,, POLITICIANS,,, GO AND BRING THEM TO BOOK AND STOP THAT NONSENSE…TODAY EFCC IS NO LONGER EFCC I USE TO KNOW WHEN I WAS IN NIGERIA… STOP CURRUPTION NOW OR…

israel o adeleke

Poor lamorde! u will continue to receive knocks for a job well done, until u are able to educate not only people in the financial industry, but every nigerian on issues surronding money laundering. but for me, i say more power to your elbow.

Teej

Well…dare i say congratulations to efcc on these arrests?…at least there is the saying that goes “at all at all na I’m bad”…but at the same time one has to wonder why we like celebrating mediocrity in this country. A few people were nabbed because they allegedly broke the law…it is fine…its all well and good…more grease to efcc’s elbow…but how about those that stole millions and billions of dollars? Didn’t they break the law? Or is there a different law that applies for people that steal such huge amounts of money? We never hear of such people getting arrested let alone convicted…until i hear that such people have been put behind bars…i am sorry, but i will not be able to give efcc a pass mark

Wiseman

Why did EFCC arrest Ezedimbu when he declared $49,971 of the $50,000 he was carrying?. A difference of $29 only. This guy should be left alone.

Insight

I do not seem to understand how nigerians want crime and corruption fought on one hand, while on the other they rubbish the efforts of agencies who at least try by being not appreciating of their efforts.
The law stipulates that any traveller with $10,000 and above is required to declare it and prove the source of it. These guys were not only carrying a lot of cash on them, but actually, on purpose, made false declarations.
They have been arrested and yet some commenters here do not deem it as a worthy effort; rather they try to make a case for the culprits. These breach of laws, however big or small, should not be condoned in any form or way as it is these small offences we condone in our daily lives that have dwarfed our interests for discipline in all quarter.
It is these “little” efforts against indiscipline and corruption that sets us back on the right pedestal to combating the greatest bane of our society – corruption.

Columnists

"Mr Orubebe, you are former minister of the Federal Republic, you are a statesman in your own right and you must be careful about what you say and about the allegations or accusations that you make and certainly you must be careful about your public conducts."

INEC's Chairman, Attairu Jega cautioning Orubebe over his conduct during the release of the Presidential election results.